Debra Kushma

Strategic Planning & Management Operations

Debra has spent her 25-year career in both financial services and strategic consulting. As a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley, Debra held a broad range of operating positions.

Highlights include:

Built a European retail investment advisory business, to include building marketing and internet teams with Pan-European capability under a global organizational framework

Established the function of Chief Operating Officer for IT – the largest division of Morgan Stanley

Established the function of Operating Officer for a newly-formed Asset Management Division and led the integration efforts during acquisitions

Acted as Special Assistant to the Morgan Stanley Chief Operating Officer and then President (John Mack), and served on the Operating Committee

Created a cross-divisional training effort, including a worldwide training initiative for all Associates, Vice President and Principals. This effort was part of a strategic, firm-wide, market-driven culture shift initiative

Established the first institutional marketing effort within Morgan Stanley

Debra also headed up client services for a global asset management firm, Fisher Francis Trees & Watt, and was a strategic consultant for Coopers & Lybrand in New York.

Debra holds dual US/UK Citizenship.

MBA in Finance from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

MSc in Economics from the London School of Economics (Fulbright-Hayes Fellowship)